Each generation of Americans has lived longer that the ones preceding it, as the national life expectancy has approached 80 years old in recent years. The progress of medical technology shows no sign of abating. Therefore, we can confidently predict that most children born in America in the next decade will live past the age of ninety."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
RESPONSE
The argument assumes the future life expectancy rate of most children born in next decade will live past the age of ninety because the life expectancy rate currently has increased to 80. The author failed to provide enough evidence and facts about the life expectancy data for the previous decades and has provided us only with the generalised statement that "Each generation of Americans has lived longer that the ones preceding it.."
The author considered only one generalised factor about the trend of the life expectancy, however there are many other reasons which play an important factor. The author assumes that the progress in the medical technology showed no sign of abating, however it doesn't prove that the medical technology has jumped leaps and peaks. The author also failed to consider the current diet system which is essential for determining the life expectancy. The passage is missing environmental factors such as problem of pollution, deforestation, global warming which are additional to the main factors to be considered for the increase in life expectancy.
As a conclusion, the passage need to be strengthened with various premises such as Life expectancy trends, medical technology progress, current diet system, environmental factors.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
RESPONSE
The argument assumes the future life expectancy rate of most children born in next decade will live past the age of ninety because the life expectancy rate currently has increased to 80. The author failed to provide enough evidence and facts about the life expectancy data for the previous decades and has provided us only with the generalised statement that "Each generation of Americans has lived longer that the ones preceding it.."
The author considered only one generalised factor about the trend of the life expectancy, however there are many other reasons which play an important factor. The author assumes that the progress in the medical technology showed no sign of abating, however it doesn't prove that the medical technology has jumped leaps and peaks. The author also failed to consider the current diet system which is essential for determining the life expectancy. The passage is missing environmental factors such as problem of pollution, deforestation, global warming which are additional to the main factors to be considered for the increase in life expectancy.
As a conclusion, the passage need to be strengthened with various premises such as Life expectancy trends, medical technology progress, current diet system, environmental factors.
